Lions

DETROIT – NOVEMBER 25: Ndamukong Suh #90 of the Detroit Lions celebrates a first quarter sack next to Kyle Vanden Bosch #93 while playing the New England Patriots on November 25, 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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FORD FIELD (CBS DETROIT) – The Detroit Lions will not vilify one of their best players, star defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, for skipping voluntary workouts at the team facility to work privately with his chosen trainers in Oregon. New head coach Jim Caldwell has made it clear he would like to have Suh present, however, and team president Tom Lewand seconded that stance in front of season ticket holders Monday night.

Lewand said he had no doubt Suh was training hard, and Lewand mentioned that Suh even brought his trainers from Oregon so they could review with Lions staff what Suh’s offseason workout entails. Still, Lewand made it clear that he felt Suh and any other player could get prepared just as well with the rest of the team at the Lions facility.

“When you talk about a player being prepared to be the best he possibly can be, I am a firm believer that the absolute best place in the country, in the world, to get better as a Detroit Lion is 222 Republic Drive in Allen Park, Michigan, in that practice facility Monday through Friday with this group of men and their staff,” Lewand said.

“[Head coach Jim Caldwell] said it – the best of the best in the National Football League when it comes to performance on the field with the athletes,” Lewand continued. “Well they’re the best of the best at what they do in the coaching ranks, too. You talk about quarterback gurus or people teaching Matthew [Stafford] how to improve his mechanics or his footwork, what have you – we have the best of the best. There ought to be no voices better that he can hear than Jim Caldwell, Joe Lombardi, Jim Bob Cooter and the like at Allen Park.”